Improvement in corsets



L. H. FOY. Corset.

Patented Nv. 27. 1877.

`N.PErens, Fuomu'eocnnnsn. wAsumaron. 'u c.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAvrNrA n. FOY, OF, NEW HAvnN, CONNECTICUT.

|.|v| PROVEM ENT iN oORsETs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,463., dated November 27,1877; application iled vSeptember 12, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAVINLA H. FOY, of the city and county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, and in whichi y Figure l represents a perspective view of one of Madame Foys corset skirt-supporters. with my present improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents, upon an enlarged scale, asection on line A B, Fig. l, as will be hereinafter more fully described; and Fig. 3 represents a detached portion of the corset skirt-supporter, also shown upon an enlarged scale, line C D,

, Fig. 1, indicating the portion of the corset, as

will be hereinafter more fully explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and use the sarle, I will proceed to describe it more in detai The breast part of the corset is' provided with spring folding pads E E. These folding pads are made with a series of springs, inserted in pockets a a, and the springs b, which are inserted in said pockets` a, are of varying lengths, as indicated by the dark lines, Fig. 1, the longest spring occupying a position just above the upper edge d of the corset when the pad is folded out, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in full lines, and said folding pads are secured to the upper edge d of the corset, so that they are curved in two directions when folded out, as shown in full lines, Figs. l and 2, one curve being from the point 1 to 2, and the other from the point e to f and the result of this combination of springs and curves is, that when they are folded out, as shown in full lines, Figs. l and 2, they remain in such unfolded positions, and require considerable force when their positions are to be changed.

When, however, it is desired to lower the front part of the corset, pads E E can be folded down, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and

when so folded down they spring out, and iit close against the breast parts F of the corset, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

By this arrangement the corset can be easily adjusted for use with high or low neck dresses, while at the same time a light andself-adjusting bosom form is secured. This is a great convenience, as it obviates the necessity of wearing false or separate forms, and `all of which advantages are obtained by the combination with the top of an ordinarily-formed corset-bust, provided with any needful number of bones or stiffeners, of the properly-formed spring extension-pieces E, stiffened with any convenient material, such as bone, cord, cork, or reed.

Another novel feature of my improved corset and skirtsupporter, the body of which, as

in ordinary corsets, is provided with bones and clasps, relates to the skirt-supporting part,

formed from the flaring rear portion thereof.

Heretofore much trouble has been experienced on accoimt of the lopping of the rim H in the center of the back, where the weight of clothing bears heavier that at the sides. The ends G of the rim H, rising in proportion as the center was depressed, prevented its operating perfectly and uniformly as a `support for the clothin g.

In order to remedy this defect and force the rim to stand out evenly and iirmly, I insert in pockets h, provided for that purpose at or near the ends of the rim, stiffeners or braces I, sufficiently stout to keep the ends of the rim down, and thus counterbalance Whatever weightmay be brought to bear in the center. These stiffeners may be made of any sufficiently stout material, and may be placed just above or in front of the ends Gr of the rim H.

It will be observed that the action of the ends Gr of rim H upon the lower ends of the stiffeners or braces I will tend to spring the ends of the braces out, thereby preventing any tendency of the ends of the braces to bear too heavily or hard against the person of the wearer.

I am aware of the ypatent to S. B. Ferris,

dated March 6, 1877, for improvement in cor- 2. The combination, with the upper edges d sets, and I hereby disclaim bosom-pads such d of the breast parts F F of a corset, of the as therein shown and described. folding spring and self-adjusting bosom-forms, Having described my improvements in corsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth. set skirt-supporters, what I claim therein as new and of my invention, and desire to secure p LAVINIA H. FOY. by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination, with the supporting- Witnesses: rim of a skirt-supporting corset, of braces ar- CHARLES H. 4R. NOTT, ranged at or near the ends Gr of the rim, sub- LEWIS J. ISAACS. stantially as and for the purposes set forth. Y 

